June 27, 2007

Lynbrook twins tear up the diamond, head north
By Stephen Baxter
MediaNews

As Lynbrook High School's standout softball pitcher and catcher, Kendra and Kelsey Wood confounded opposing hitters at the plate this season.

Pitcher Kendra packs a fast ball, curve ball, screw ball and a rise, and she is now perfecting her change-up. While some sisters love to bicker on the field, the twins said their familiarity actually gives them an advantage.

"I think it definitely helps me out because she's been catching me since I started to pitch," said Kendra.

College coaches from Loyola Marymount, California State University-Fullerton and others tried to recruit the twins, but they plan to play for San Francisco State University together next season.

Lynbrook's varsity girls softball team finished first in its league for the second consecutive season, and played in Central Coast Section games for the third year in a row. The Woods' coaches said they have noticed the positive prodding they give each other.

"Every year they're battling for who's the best hitter," said coach Gino Sigala. Sigala coaches the sisters' summer travel league team, the Salinas Wildcats, which plays in the 18-and-under division in the American Softball Association of America.

"They're very supportive of each other, just patting each other on the back," Sigala said. "It's uncanny how much they are alike. They have different swings, but they both hit for power."

The twins, who are 17, said their older sister played Bobby Sox softball and got them into it.

The twins have played in travel leagues since age 12 in Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Nevada.

When ESPN televised women's college softball tournaments in prime time in early June, Kelsey Wood said she spotted several girls she knew or had played against.

"I watched a lot of the games, and it's kind of what we're going to be doing this year," Kelsey said.

Kendra added, "It's great to watch it because our sport is getting a lot of attention. It gets the younger girls to go out."

Some of Kelsey's biggest triumphs have come when she has a 26-ounce bat in her hands.

At a national ASA tournament in Texas last year, Kelsey stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and down several runs in the last inning.

"I said,`Just swing, don't think about it,' " Sigala said. Kelsey eyed her pitch and lined the ball off the top of the fence - 244 feet - to double and clear the bases. They won the game.

"That stuck in my mind - it was almost a grand slam," Sigala said. "She's come up with some really big hits," he said.

Off the field, Kendra's GPA hovered around 3.5, and Kelsey's was slightly lower. Kendra said she enjoys school, while Kelsey said it's not her first priority.

Kendra will major in history, and Kelsey plans to study psychology at S.F. State.

"My freshman year I just want to have a really good impact on the team," Kelsey said. "Our goal is to win."